VINYL
FRONTIER: There’s a diamond in our midst, a pearl amid
the swine of the music industry, if you will, in the form
of Coxsackie-based label Sundazed Music. They’ve been
around since 1989, putting out quality albums by the finest
bands of the garage, surf, rockabilly, pop, country, jazz,
blues, and just plain shit you don’t know but should, variety.

Working as detectives and archivists, the folks at Sundazed
deal mostly in ’60s reissues, compilations and previously
unreleased material—available as 7”s, vinyl LPs (180 grams,
baby) and CDs—with their catalog based mainly in the music-made-when-I-was-still-playing-Candyland
category. These music lovers search the ends of the Earth
for rights to choice artists or songs, and mine for lost recordings.

But lately the work is coming to them. Former Uncle Tupelo
manger Tony Margherita is a fan of the label, and he sought
it out to release a vinyl-only version of the alt-country
darlings’ recent album 89/93: An Anthology—which came
out last month with two tracks not found on the CD. Sundazed
is also planning on releasing a limited-run vinyl version
(only a CD has been released thus far) of Wilco’s newest,
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, which will come out along with
the vinyl releases of Dylan’s Blond on Blond (2 LPs),
Jefferson Airplane’s Surrealistic Pillow and the Byrds’
Columbia Singles Collection ’65-’67 (2 LPs).

As if that weren’t enough for fans of the No Depression revolution,
Sundazed will also release the first three original Uncle
Tupelo albums on vinyl, out of print and fetching quite a
fee on eBay, with Sony issuing the CD versions.

WHERE
THERE’S SMOKE THEY’RE FIRED: Four years after their inception,
SecondHand Smoke have called it quits. The
break-up is an amicable one, we’re told, as the bandmates
simply want to pursue other interests and challenges. They
wish to thank their fans “for the memories, the Mardi Gras
beads and the hearing loss.”

LIKE
FINE WINE: Virtual claps on the backs to local metal band
China White, whohave been a going concern for
20 years. To do anything for 20 years is commendable
(except, perhaps, to molest kittens), but to rock as hard
and steadfastly as these guys do for that long definitely
deserves an honorable mention, and another honorable mention,
and a semi-honorable mention down the line. Anyhow, China
White celebrated their longevity a few weeks back with a show
at Valentine’s. Here’s to 20 more, guys.

IN THE STU-STU-STUDIO: John Brodeur and the Suggestions will
release their first work on July 2, a 500 copy EP, Mix
Tape, which will feature seven new songs, recorded at
various studios earlier this year. It will be available through
the band’s Web site, www.tigerpop.com, and at their live shows—of
which there will be plenty in support of the CD, taking them
from Los Angeles to Ypsilanti, Mich. . . . Electronic rockers
Wetwerks have recently returned from Los Angeles, where
they were working on their newest project with Filter and
Rollins Band producer Rae Dileo. The band will release a five-song
EP in July, and will debut some of their new material at the
upcoming EDGEfest. . . . Knotworking are working.
They’re recording their third CD in July, with Frank Moscowitz
producing.